BAFTA TV Awards 2014: Broadchurch takes three big prizes

ITV crime drama Broadchurch emerged as the biggest winner at the 2014 BAFTA TV Awards, scooping three of the night’s top prizes.

The show, which proved a massive ratings hit for the channel last year, claimed best drama, best actress for Olivia Colman and best supporting actor for David Bradley.

Colman paid emotional tribute to her husband and father during her acceptance speech and was even seen to shed a tear. Acknowledging that such a reaction was “not cool”, she went on to add that working with co-star David Tennant was “a joy and a treat”.

Colman, who also won two BAFTAs in 2013, is expected to reprise her role in Broadchurch for the second season, which is now in development.

After collecting his award for Broadchurch, veteran character actor Bradley – who played one of the chief suspects – revealed that he had been sent a replica BAFTA award in chocolate by his agent last Christmas, adding: “Finally, I can take it down off the mantelpiece and eat it.”

The show focused upon the investigation into the death of a child in a sleepy coastal town. It is also being remade for US audiences, with Tennant reprising his role.

ITV also enjoyed success in the soap category, where Coronation Street won the soap and continuing drama gong.

And the channel’s top two presenters, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, also landed two prizes for their show, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, which won best entertainment show and entertainment performance.

Sean Harris picked up another of the night’s top awards as best actor for Channel 4 drama Southcliffe and was visibly nervous as he took to the stage to accept the accolade, telling himself he must not mumble during his speech. The drama followed the aftermath of shootings in a small English town.

Sarah Lancashire was crowned best supporting actress for the BBC’s Last Tango in Halifax, while BBC One’s Doctor Who: Day of the Doctor won the Radio Times audience award, the only award of the night chosen by viewers.

In the comedy categories, Channel 4’s The IT Crowd claimed two prizes for stars Richard Ayoade and Katherine Parkinson as, respectively, best male and female in a comedy programme.

Parkinson praised writer Graham Linehan “who has the most original comic brain”, while Ayoade joked that he hoped his award would inspire “other nasal men with no facial expression”.

US drama Breaking Bad, which was shown exclusively online in the UK via Netflix, won the international award after a change in the rules allowed shows screened online to be eligible.

ITV and Channel 4 took home eight awards each and the BBC won four, including the audience award.

Actress Julie Walters received a standing ovation after she was presented with a Fellowship, BAFTA’s highest honour, for her contribution to film and TV.

And Cilla Black was honoured with a special award in recognition of her contribution to entertainment over her 50-year career. She also received a standing ovation.